Machine for cleaning and polishing pool balls

ABSTRACT

A motor driven machine for washing and polishing pool balls on which is provided a container for rotation of the balls therein against brushes in the presence of a cleaning liquid and then the transfer of the washed and dried balls in contact between deep pile covered surfaces of a pair of power rotated coaxial discs rotated at different speeds including means for confining the balls between the fleece or the pile and including bumper means for the random rotation of the balls while being moved in a generally circular path between the discs for polishing.

United States Patent 1 Apr.11, 1972 Mitnick [54] MACHINE FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING POOL BALLS [72] Inventor: Jack J. Mitnick, 705 East 10th Avenue,

Hialeah, Fla. 33010 [22] Filed: Nov. 2, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 85,912

[52] U.S.Cl. ..15/21 A, l5/3.19

[51] 1nt.Cl. ..A63b 47/04 [58] Field ofSearch ..15/21 A,97, 3.19

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,796,704 3/1931 Day ..15/21 A 2,992,446 7/1961 Wise ..15/21AX Primary ExaminerEdward L. Roberts Attorney-Lloyd J. Andres [57] ABSTRACT A motor driven machine for washing and polishing pool balls on which is provided a container for rotation of the balls therein against brushes in the presence of a cleaning liquid and then the transfer of the washed and dried balls in contact between deep pile covered surfaces of a pair of power rotated coaxial discs rotated at different speeds including means for confining the balls between the fleece or the pile and including bumper means for the random rotation of the balls while being moved in a generally circular path between the discs for polishing.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 'p v L i n im-zspielkiiwasa i-ams PATENTEDAPR 11 I972 V 3. 654.655

sum 1 OF 3 INVENTOR. JACK J. MITNICK PATENTEUAPRH I972 3,654,655

sum 2 BF 3 min -mm ml WMII FIG. 7

INVENTOR. JACK J MITNICK 5%;}, 1%ahm MACHINE FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING POOL BALLS This invention relates in general to machines for the simultaneous cleaning and polishing of pluralities of pool balls by liquid washing and dry polishing steps.

Prior to the present invention, pool balls were periodically cleaned, washed and polished by semi-manual machines with limited effectiveness. The professional parlors generally use well known manual cleaning and polishing means which is time consuming and thus relatively expensive and often ineffective.

The present invention overcomes the above objections and disadvantages by the provision of a motor driven machine in which a plurality of balls are thoroughly washed and scrubbed by a rotor and brush means in an effective fluid, such as a water-detergent mixture, and when dried are placed between a pair of power rotated coaxial discs covered with deep pile fabric or lambskin. This pile fabric comes in contact with opposite sides of the balls and includes means for applying random rotation to each of the balls while driven in a generally circular path, which construction provides one object of the invention.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a casing means on which is secured a power driven rotor within a liquid retaining container for random rotating the balls in a circular path against a brush means for removing undesirable dirt and other extraneous material from the surface of the balls.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a polishing assembly in a casing which includes a pair of spaced coaxial lambskin or deep pile fabric faced discs adapted to be power rotated at predetermined different speeds around a common vertical axis wherein said lower disc is provided with a central ball agitating means and an outer stationary ring for confining and random rotating a plurality of balls positioned between and in contact with the fleece sides of the lambskin covered discs and including means for slidably removing the lower disc means for sequentially loading groups of balls to be polished when reinserted and the discs operated by electric power.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of the invention are described and shown in the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the machine in reduced scale.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the machine taken through section line 22, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view taken through section line 3--3, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of elements shown in FIG. 3 in changed position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional side elevation taken through section line 5-5, FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective inverted view of elements shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken through section line 7-7, FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 1, a metal frame or casing 1 provides a support and housing means for the entire machine, which has a front panel 2 secured to a slidable platform member for horizontal withdrawal by use of a hand hole 3 therethrough for manually loading and unloading the balls for washing and polishing, respectively.

A cylindrical liquid-tight container 4, preferably made of plastic material, is centrally positioned on the top side of the casing l and provided with a removable friction retained cover 5, as shown. The main casing is provided with four resilient feet 6 secured to the bottom thereof to stabilize the position of the machine on a smooth surface, when not otherwise secured.

The machine is provided with an on-off switch 7 and a power cord assembly 8 for connection to a source of electric power. An upper gear motor assembly 9 is secured to the inner side of the top of the casing 1 by screw fasteners 10 and an output shaft 11 thereof is journaled in the speed reducer end of the motor assembly 9 which terminates at the upper end in a spindle 12, which supports a coaxial washing rotor 13, as shown, having an integral hub 14 enclosing the entire upper end portion of the spindle 12. A washer-like planar disc 15 is coaxially secured to the upper surface of rotor 13 and is preferably made of high friction material, such as rubber, which supports all of the balls 16 to be cleaned. The rotor has a slot 17 centrally across the bottom thereof in which a pin 18 secured through the spindle 12 provides means for the shaft 11 to rotate the rotor 13. A stepped bushing 19 has the lower portion made hexagonal to engage a hexagonal hole in the center cover of the casing 1, as shown in FIG. 7 for preventing the rotation of container 4. A bushing 19 also retains an outer peripheral groove for a rubber grommet 20 for sealing the circular hole in the center of the bottom of container 4. A resilient 0" ring 21 is positioned in appropriate grooves in the bushing 19 and shaft 11 which is required to seal the shaft 11 with respect to the bushing 19, thus providing a leak-proof container 4.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, the cover 5 for the container 4 is preferably made from slightly pliable plastic material and has two pair of uprights 22 positioned as shown in FIG. 6 for retaining two brush assemblies 23 adapted for snap-in engagement between the uprights 22.

It is now apparent that when the shaft 11 is rotated at a predetermined speed and the container 4 partially filled with cleaning liquid L, such as a water-detergent mixture, and the motor 9 energized, the balls 16 will roll in a rotary path on disc 15 and centrifugal force will urge them into contact with the sides of the container and thus provide a random rotation to each ball and thereby brush and clean the entire surface thereof. The balls are then manually removed from the container 4 by removing the friction secured cover 5 and removing the balls for drying.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show the mechanism in the machine for polishing the balls that have been cleaned in the container 4. It is to be noted in FIG. 2 that the lower end of shaft 11 serves to rotate a circular polishing disc 24 which is retained coaxial on the lower end of shaft 11 by suitable set screw 25 in the hub thereof. The disc serves to retain a circular polishing material such as the well known lambskin bonnet assembly 26 consisting of a fabric body 27 with lambskin leather 28 secured to the fabric body 27 with the fleece 29 extending downward therefrom. A draw-cord 30 is retained in a hem 31 around the inner periphery of the fabric body 27 of the bonnet which provides the means for snugly retaining the bonnet on the disc 24 by tying the opposite ends of the draw-cord together.

A platform 32 is slidably supported on each side of the casing 1 by upper and lower slides 33 secured to casing 1. A gear motor 34 is centrally secured to the under side of the platform 32 by screw means 35 and the final drift shaft 36 of the motor 34 extends upward, as shown, with coaxial shaft 11 of the gear motor adapted to drive shaft 36 at a predetermined lower speed than the speed of shaft 11. A second disc 24 is secured to shaft 36 by set screw 25 and has retained thereon a bonnet assembly 26, like that used on the upper disc 24 with the fleece 29 thereof extending upward with the lower bonnet with respect to the diameter of the balls to be polished.

Other polishing material, such as deep pile fabric, may be secured to the faces of the discs 24 for similar polishing results.

A circular ball retaining ring 37 is supported by four legs 38 on platform 32 by screws 39, best shown in FIG. 2, which holds the ring coaxial with the bonnet assembly 26 and midway between the planar fleece sides of both bonnets. The ring and legs are coated with a layer of elastomer, such as plasticized polyvinyl or rubber compound of predetermined resilience. Four arcuate recesses 40 are provided in the inner periphery of the ring positioned ninety degrees apart, best shown in FIG. 3.

A random agitating rotor 41, coated with an elastomer of the character previously described, is secured coaxially on the upper end portion of shaft 36 by double D flats and retained by an ordinary C" washer. The rotor also has four integral spherical elastomer projections 43 equi-spaced on the outer periphery of the rotor, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring to FIG. 5, the front panel 2 is secured to the front edge of .platform 32 by a well known angle bracket means 44 and the s.p.s.t. electric switch 7 is connected in one line 45 of the power cord assembly 8, which will control a conventional circuit from the power cord to the parallel connected gear motors 9 and 34.

ln operation, and in this particular embodiment, the upper motor 9 has a gear ratio for driving the shaft 11 at approximately 90 r.p.m. and the lower motor 34 has a gear ratio which drives the shaft 36 at approximately 60 r.p.m.

The pool balls are washed by removing the cover from the container 4 and filling same to a predetermined depth with a water-detergent mixture or other cleaning liquid L and placing eight balls therein and replacing the cover. The switch 7 is thrown to its on position, which will energize both gear-motors 9 and 34. The rotor 13 and disc 15 will then rotate and roll the balls in a counter-clockwise direction viewed from the top. They will rotate in a random fashion in contact with the liquid L because of the intermittent action of the brushes in contact with the surface of the balls and the dual rotation applied by both the driving disc 15 and the centrifugal force against the stationary walls of the container. Following a relatively short period of time, the switch 7 is thrown to the off position and the balls manually removed from container 4 and dried ready for polishing.

It is to be noted that the container 4 and its contents may be lifted from the casing 1 for quick disassembly and cleaning.

Referring to FIG. 5, the panel 2 and the platform 32 are withdrawn as a drawer to the position shown in dotted lines and washed and dried balls placed in the position shown in FIG. 3 on the fleece of the lower bonnet and between the ring 37 and the disc 41. Then the platform and front panel are pushed back into casing 1, as shown in FIG. 1, which places both bonnets 26 in coaxial relation with the balls therebetween. Then the switch is thrown to its on position, which will energize both motors l1 and 34 and rotate the upper and lower bonnets at approximately 90 and 60 r.p.m., respectively. The surface of the balls will then be uniformly polished by the fleece of the two bonnets or the deep pile surfaces in contact with the six balls and each ball will rotate in random direction by virtue of the difference in speed of the two bonnets and the periodic impact of the projections 42 of disc 41 which occurs as each ball is moved by centrifugal force into each of the recesses 40. Thus in a relatively short period of time the balls have randomly rotated sufficiently to receive a uniform high surface polish thereon.

It is apparent that the washing and polishing of sequential groups of balls may take place simultaneously.

Also, the washing and polishing units of the device may be made separately with the addition of one gear-motor for certain high production use and the diameter of the washer rotor and associated parts, as well as the diameters of the bonnets and associated elements may be constructed to assume a wide range of dimensions for handling larger numbers of balls.

It is also to be noted that a long nap fabric may be used on the discs 26 as an alternate to the lambskin, with similar polishing results.

This invention comprehends certain other modifications in construction that come within the teachings and scope of the above specification.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A machine for washing pool balls comprising a cylindrical open container of predetermined dimension having a substantially planar removable lid normal the axis of said container and adapted to hermetically seal the upper open end of said cylinder,

said lid having at least one transverse bristle brush removably secured to the inner surface thereof positioned normal said axis with the bristles of said brush extending downward from the inner side of said lid,

a bushing means secured and sealed centrally in the bottom of said container and having a bore therethrough coaxial with said axis,

a fixed support means for engaging said bushing and retaining the bottom of said container in a substantially horizontal position on said support means,

an electric gear-motor secured undersaid support means with the final drive shaft thereof extending upward coaxially through said bore in said bushing and into said container and adapted to rotate at a predetermined speed when said gear-motor is energized,

hermetic sealing means positioned between the inner surface of said bore and the outer surface of said shaft for sealing cleaning liquid in said container,

a circular rotor means coaxially secured on said shaft for rotation thereby with the lower surface and the outer periphery thereof in close proximity to the bottom and inner wall of said container respectively,

said rotor means having an upper planar marginal surface of predetermined width normal to said axis for supporting a plurality of pool balls thereon.

a predetermined quantity of cleaning liquid in said container whereby the said balls under the influence of centrifugal force will simultaneously rotate in said liquid in a random manner on said marginal surface and against the inner periphery of said container and periodically traverse said brush means for washing extraneous matter from the entire surface of said balls when said gear-motor is energized.

2. The construction recited in claim 1 including a plurality of bristle brushes secured to the inner surface of said lid in radial position with respect to said axis with the bristles of said brush extending downward from the inner side of said lid.

3. A machine for polishing pool balls comprising means forming a frame having a substantially horizontal top and a parallel spaced horizontal platform,

an upper electric gear-motor secured to the under side of said top having a first final drive shaft extending downward for rotation about a substantially vertical axis,

an upper circular first disc of predetermined diameter secured to the end of said first shaft for rotation at a predetermined speed having a planar lower surface normal to said axis,

a first fibrous polishing means of substantially uniform thickness secured to the said lower surface of said disc having freely extending fibers extending downward a predetermined distance from said lower surface,

a lower electric gear motor secured to the under side of said platform and having a final upstanding drive shaft extending upward through said platform and positioned coaxial with said axis,

a lower second like disc secured for rotation on said upward extending shaft and having a planar upper surface normal to said axis and parallel spaced a predetermined distance from said lower surface of said first disc,

a second said fibrous polishing means secured to said upper surface of said second disc with freely extending fibers extending upward a predetermined distance from said upper surface and spaced from said first fibrous polishing means a predetermined distance less than the diameter of said pool balls to be polished,

a ball confining ring having an inside diameter substantially equal to the diameter of each said disc and coated with an elastomer of predetermined uniform thickness,

said ring having a plurality of radially spaced arcuate recesses on the inner periphery thereof and supported coaxial with said axis and positioned in a plane midway between said first and second disc by a plurality of like legs having their upper ends integral with said ring and their lower ends secured to said platform,

a bumper rotor of predetermined diameter secured to the end portion of said upstanding shaft and coaxial with said axis and in said plane between each said disc and coated with an elastomer of predetermined thickness and having a plurality of elastomer bumpers integral with the outer periphery thereof,

a source of electric energy,

a circuit means including a manual switch for movement from open to closed positions connecting said upper and lower gear motors with said source of electric energy whereby when a plurality of said balls are positioned between said first and said second polishing means and between the inner periphery of said ring and the outer periphery of said bumper rotor they will be random rotated and moved in a generally circular path and become polished when said switch is moved from said open to said closed position for a predetermined period of time.

4. A machine for washing and polishing a plurality of pool balls comprising means forming a casing having an upper side,

an open top cylindrical washing container removably secured to the upper side of said casing with the bottom thereof positioned substantially horizontal,

a removable cover hermetically secured over the said open end of said container positioned substantially parallel said bottom,

at least one brush means with the ends of the bristles thereof extending downward a predetermined distance from the inside surface of said cover and normal to the axis of said container,

a first electric gear-motor means secured to the under side of said upper side of said casing and having a first final upward extending drive shaft positioned coaxial with said axis and projecting upward a predetermined distance through said upper side and the said bottom of said conminer and a lower end portion thereof extending downward a predetermined distance,

a hermetic sealing means between said shaft and said container,

a circular rotor means in said container secured to said first upward extending drive shaft in coaxial relation and having a planar upper surface parallel said bottom of said container and spaced a predetermined distance from the ends of said bristles and adapted for rotation at a predetermined first speed for rotating said balls on said rotor against the inner said wall of said container when said first gear-motor is energized,

a predetermined quantity of cleaning liquid retained in said container,

a first upper circular polishing disc secured for rotation to the said lower end portion of said first drive shaft with the lower surface thereof parallel said bottom and normal said axis,

a fibrous polishing means on the said lower surface of said upper polishing disc and extending downward a predetermined distance therefrom,

a platform supported in said casing in parallel spaced relation with said upper side of said casing,

a second gear-motor secured to said platform having an upward extending second final drive shaft positioned coaxial with said axis,

a second like said circular polishing disc coaxially secured on said second shaft in inverted relation with respect to said first polishing disc with the upper surface thereof in parallel spaced relation therewith,

a like said fibrous polishing means on said lower polishing disc extending upward a predetermined distance from the upper side thereof and adapted to be rotated by said second shaft at a second said predetermined speed when said second gear-motor is energized,

a circular ball confining member secured to said platform having a resilient portion thereof surrounding and coaxial said discs and positioned in a plane parallel and midway therebetween,

a resilient ball agitator means secured to the upper end of said second drive shaft and positioned in saidplane for agitating said balls for ran om rotation positioned in polishing position between the upper and lower said discs and retained therebetween by said confining member whereby a plurality of balls placed in said first container will be cleaned by the action of said brush means and said liquid when random rotated by said rotor and moved in a circular path around the inner side wall of said container and whereby simultaneously a plurality of cleaned balls are polished by the fibrous polishing means on each of said discs when said first and second gear-motors are energized for a predetermined period of time.

5. The construction recited in claim 4 including a support slide means secured on opposite inner sides of said casing and positioned a predetermined distance from the top of said casing and parallel therewith for slidably supporting said platform for the withdrawal of all said elements secured thereon for loading a plurality of balls to be polished on said lower disc between said confining member and said agitator means and for slidably returning said platform to its operative position.

6. The construction recited in claim 4 wherein said agitator means is circular in shape and coaxial with said axis having an elastomer coating on the outer periphery thereof including a plurality of elastomer projections for the random rotation of each of said plurality of balls while moving in a generally circular path on said second disc and against said confining member. 

1. A machine for washing pool balls comprising a cylindrical open container of predetermined dimension having a substantially planar removable lid normal the axis of said container and adapted to hermetically seal the upper open end of said cylinder, said lid having at least one transverse bristle brush removably secured to the inner surface thereof positioned normal said axis with the bristles of said brush extending downward from the inner side of said lid, a bushing means secured and sealed centrally in the bottom of said container and having a bore therethrough coaxial with said axis, a fixed support means for engaging said bushing and retaining the bottom of said container in a substantially horizontal position on said support means, an electric gear-motor secured under said support means with the final drive shaft thereof extending upward coaxially through said bore in said bushing and into said container and adapted to rotate at a predetermined speed when said gear-motor is energized, hermetic sealing means positioned between the inner surface of said bore and the outer surface of said shaft for sealing cleaning liquid in said container, a circular rotor means coaxially secured on said shaft for rotation thereby with the lower surface and the outer periphery thereof in close proximity to the bottom and inner wall of said container respectively, said rotor means having an upper planar marginal surface of predetermined width normal to said axis for supporting a plurality of pool balls thereon. a predetermined quantity of cleaning liquid in said container whereby the said balls under the influence of centrifugal force will simultaneously rotate in said liquid in a random manner on said marginal surface and against the inner periphery of said container and periodically traverse said brush means for washing extraneous matter from the entire surface of said balls when said gear-motor is energized.
 2. The construction recited in claim 1 including a plurality of bristle brushes secured to the inner surface of said lid in radial position with respect to said axis with the bristles of said brush extending downward from the inner side of said lid.
 3. A machine for polishing pool balls comprising means forming a frame having a substantially horizontal top and a parallel spaced horizontal platform, an upper electric gear-motor secured to the under side of said top having a first final drive shaft extending downward for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, an upper circular first disc of predetermined diameter secured to the end of said first shaft for rotation at a predetermined speed having a planar lower surface normal to said axis, a first fibrous polishing means of substantially uniform thickness secured to the said lower surface of said disc having freely extending fibers extending downward a predetermined distance from said lower surface, a lower electric gear motor secured to the under side of said platform and having a final upstanding drive shaft extending upward through said platform and positioned coaxial with said axis, a lower second like disc secured for rotation on sAid upward extending shaft and having a planar upper surface normal to said axis and parallel spaced a predetermined distance from said lower surface of said first disc, a second said fibrous polishing means secured to said upper surface of said second disc with freely extending fibers extending upward a predetermined distance from said upper surface and spaced from said first fibrous polishing means a predetermined distance less than the diameter of said pool balls to be polished, a ball confining ring having an inside diameter substantially equal to the diameter of each said disc and coated with an elastomer of predetermined uniform thickness, said ring having a plurality of radially spaced arcuate recesses on the inner periphery thereof and supported coaxial with said axis and positioned in a plane midway between said first and second disc by a plurality of like legs having their upper ends integral with said ring and their lower ends secured to said platform, a bumper rotor of predetermined diameter secured to the end portion of said upstanding shaft and coaxial with said axis and in said plane between each said disc and coated with an elastomer of predetermined thickness and having a plurality of elastomer bumpers integral with the outer periphery thereof, a source of electric energy, a circuit means including a manual switch for movement from open to closed positions connecting said upper and lower gear motors with said source of electric energy whereby when a plurality of said balls are positioned between said first and said second polishing means and between the inner periphery of said ring and the outer periphery of said bumper rotor they will be random rotated and moved in a generally circular path and become polished when said switch is moved from said open to said closed position for a predetermined period of time.
 4. A machine for washing and polishing a plurality of pool balls comprising means forming a casing having an upper side, an open top cylindrical washing container removably secured to the upper side of said casing with the bottom thereof positioned substantially horizontal, a removable cover hermetically secured over the said open end of said container positioned substantially parallel said bottom, at least one brush means with the ends of the bristles thereof extending downward a predetermined distance from the inside surface of said cover and normal to the axis of said container, a first electric gear-motor means secured to the under side of said upper side of said casing and having a first final upward extending drive shaft positioned coaxial with said axis and projecting upward a predetermined distance through said upper side and the said bottom of said container and a lower end portion thereof extending downward a predetermined distance, a hermetic sealing means between said shaft and said container, a circular rotor means in said container secured to said first upward extending drive shaft in coaxial relation and having a planar upper surface parallel said bottom of said container and spaced a predetermined distance from the ends of said bristles and adapted for rotation at a predetermined first speed for rotating said balls on said rotor against the inner said wall of said container when said first gear-motor is energized, a predetermined quantity of cleaning liquid retained in said container, a first upper circular polishing disc secured for rotation to the said lower end portion of said first drive shaft with the lower surface thereof parallel said bottom and normal said axis, a fibrous polishing means on the said lower surface of said upper polishing disc and extending downward a predetermined distance therefrom, a platform supported in said casing in parallel spaced relation with said upper side of said casing, a second gear-motor secured to said platform having an upward extending second final drive shaft positioned coaxial with said axis, a Second like said circular polishing disc coaxially secured on said second shaft in inverted relation with respect to said first polishing disc with the upper surface thereof in parallel spaced relation therewith, a like said fibrous polishing means on said lower polishing disc extending upward a predetermined distance from the upper side thereof and adapted to be rotated by said second shaft at a second said predetermined speed when said second gear-motor is energized, a circular ball confining member secured to said platform having a resilient portion thereof surrounding and coaxial said discs and positioned in a plane parallel and midway therebetween, a resilient ball agitator means secured to the upper end of said second drive shaft and positioned in said plane for agitating said balls for random rotation positioned in polishing position between the upper and lower said discs and retained therebetween by said confining member whereby a plurality of balls placed in said first container will be cleaned by the action of said brush means and said liquid when random rotated by said rotor and moved in a circular path around the inner side wall of said container and whereby simultaneously a plurality of cleaned balls are polished by the fibrous polishing means on each of said discs when said first and second gear-motors are energized for a predetermined period of time.
 5. The construction recited in claim 4 including a support slide means secured on opposite inner sides of said casing and positioned a predetermined distance from the top of said casing and parallel therewith for slidably supporting said platform for the withdrawal of all said elements secured thereon for loading a plurality of balls to be polished on said lower disc between said confining member and said agitator means and for slidably returning said platform to its operative position.
 6. The construction recited in claim 4 wherein said agitator means is circular in shape and coaxial with said axis having an elastomer coating on the outer periphery thereof including a plurality of elastomer projections for the random rotation of each of said plurality of balls while moving in a generally circular path on said second disc and against said confining member. 